Luggage case



E. H. HEITLER LUGGAGE CASE Nov. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 2, 1955 INVENTOR. Emmef) H. Heir/er BY 15% A. A W

ATTORNEY E. H. HEITLER LUGGAGE CASE Nov. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 2, 1955 Fig. 7.

Fig. 6.

- INVENTOR. 'Emmefr H. Heir/er BY Fig. 9.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,912,019 LUGGAGE CASE Emmett H. Heitler, Denver, Colo., assignor to Shwayder Bros., Inc., Denver, Colo., a' corporation of Colorado Original application March 2, 1955, Serial No. 491,692, now Patent No. 2,861,661, dated November 25, 1958. Divided and this application May 2, 1958, Serial No. 732,707

Claims. (Cl. 190-41) This invention relates to luggage cases.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 491,692, filed March 2, 1955, now US. Patent No. 2,861,661. The present invention is particularly adapted to be utilized in a luggage case having a general construction as disclosed and claimed in said Patent No. 2,861,661, but is not limited thereto.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a novel luggage case; to provide such a luggage case which may be made in two sections, one of which may hold suits, dresses, skirts and the like, which may be carried on hangers; to provide such a luggage case which includes a novel trolley on which hangers for suits, dresses and the like may be placed; to provide such a luggage case which includes a novel drawbar for holding suits, dresses and the like in position within the case; to provide such a luggage case in which the load, such as from suits, dresses and the like on hangers, may be transmitted more directly to the handle for carrying the case or to a device for hanging up a section of the case; and to provide such a luggage case which is economical to manufacture and easily assembled.

Additional objects and the novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the two sections of a luggage case in disassembled relation, such luggage case being constructed generally in accordance with my Patent No. 2,861,661, with a trolley and a drawbar constructed in accordance with the present invention being mounted within the upper case section;

:Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, looking upwardly toward the trolley and associated. parts from the position of line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken at the position of the handle of the luggage case of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of an upper section of the case, in the position of Fig. 1, with certain parts omitted but showing a drawbar and supporting arms therefor in closed position and garments indicated by dash lines;

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4, but with the draw bar and arms in open or lower position;

Fig. 6 is a condensed side elevation of an eccentric arm, a pair of which pivotally support the draw bar of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a condensed top plan view of the eccentric draw bar arm of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a garment rod bracket.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a luggage case particularly adapted to incorporate the features of the present invention may be formed as two separable sections, such as an upper section U and a lower section L, provided with separable hinges H at the bottom which permit the two sections to be separated so that the upper section U may be supported by a rectangular hook 10 particularly adaptice ed to be placed on top of a closet door or the like, so that the dresses, suits or the like placed in upper section U may be unfolded and hang downwardly, as described later. One of the sections, such as the lower section L, may be provided with a tongue strip 11 extending entirely around the peripheral edge thereof and adapted to interfit with a groove strip 12 which extends entirely around the peripheral edge of the other section of the case, such as the upper section U. The two sections are held together in closed position, as by a pair of draw bolts 13 at the sides and another pair of draw bolts 13' at the top, while the sections may be locked together by a lock 14 at the top. A handle 15 permits the case to be carried, while a ring 16 may be attached to the upper section U for receiving a hook 17, connected to the hook 10 by a swivel rod 18, when the upper section U is to be suspended, such as in Fig. 1.

In accordance with this invention, the upper section U may also be provided with a trolley 19 on which hangers for dresses, suits and the like may be placed, while such garments, when longer than the height of the upper section U, may be folded beneath a removable rod 20, mounted in brackets 21 at the lower end of section U, and the ends folded over and held in position by a draw bar 22, which is supported by an eccentric arm 23 at each side, the novel action and positioning of draw bar 22 and eccentric arms 23 being described later. In general, garments 24 may be packed in the upper section U as in Fig. 4 and hang therefrom as in Fig. 5, as described later.

Infurther accordance with this invention, one end of trolley 19 is directly attached to one end of the handle 15 and the opposite end of the trolley is directly attached to ring 16, so that the load on the trolley 19 will be transmitted directly to the handle 15, when the latter is used for carrying purposes, or to the ring 16, when the latter is utilized in suspending the case section. The preferred construction of the trolley 19 will be described later.

As in my Patent No. 2,861,661, a tongue of strip 11, as in Fig. 3, interfits with a groove of strip 12, while each of the strips 11 and 12 may be formed to a peripheral shape corresponding to the edges of the sections U and L, with the abutting ends of each strip attached together, as by a plate riveted to a web 26 of the strip. Each strip 11 and 12 may also be provided with an outer flange and an inner flange, the former providing a space for reception of the edges of the side walls 27 of the case sections, which may comprise an outer covering layer of a vinyl plastic, or other suitable wear resistant material, preferably bonded to a layer of fiber reinforced by impregnation with plastic from both sides. The end 28 of the upper section U and the end 29 of the lower section L may be similarly formed from a suitable materials, such as a plastic wear resistant layer bonded to a plastic impregnated fiber layer, or the side walls and ends may comprise a plastic wear resistant outer layer bonded to a light metal, such as a magnesium alloy. Due to the plastic or smooth metal on the inside of the side walls and ends of the case, it is unnecessary to line the case, although a fabric lining may be provided, if desired. The side walls 27 may be attached to the web 26 of the strips 11 and 12 by a series of peripherally spaced rivets, as Well as by the rivets which attach the draw bolts 13 and 13, the lock 14, the handle 15 and the hinges H to the webs 26 of the tongue and groove strips. The side walls of the sections may be attached to the ends thereof by a reinforcing strip 30, as of molded plastic, and stitching 31, as in Fig. 3. A truss-like structure T may be inserted within each of the sections to maintain the ends 28 and 29 of the respective sections spaced apart from the re- 'spective strips 11 and 12, as well as to resist any force tending to compress the luggage case. In general, each truss-like structure T may include a rod 32 and a series of pairs of truss arms 33, bent upwardly in a generally V-shape from the center and welded to a short tube 34, which may slide along rod 32. For additional information relative to the truss-like structure T and the installation thereof, as well as other parts referred to generally herein, reference is made to my aforesaid Patent No. 2,861,661.

Each hinge H may comprise a male half and a female half, each being conveniently attached by rivets to the web 26 of the respective tongue strip 11 of section L and groove strip 12 of section U. The male half is provided with an angularly extending tongue 35, as in Fig. l, which extends arcuately through a desired angle, such as 135, then tangentially. The tongue 35 of each male half of each hinge is adapted to engage a lateral pin 36 mounted in wrap-arotuid ears of the female half of the hinge, so that the engagement of the tongue 35 with the pin 36 will hold strips 11 and 12 in engagement at the bottom of the case sections when in closed position. Such engagement of hinge tongues 35 with pins 36 also permits the case sections to be opened, as to a position past 90, without separation, but when the sections are pivoted further apart, the upper section U may be lifted from the lower section L, the pins 36 thereby being separated from the tongues 35. After the two case sections have been separated, the lower section L may be separately placed at any desired location, while the upper section U may be hung on a closet door, as by hook 10, or in any other desired position. It is to be noted that, unless the upper section of the case is moved past a perpendicular position rearwardly, the hinges H will still remain attached together. Thus, the case may be opened and either section supported against a chair, bed or the like, with the sections still attached together.

In further accordance with this invention, the trolley 19, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, may be arcuate at its outer end and extend inwardly in a straight line to an L-shaped bracket 38, the upper leg 39 of which may be attached to the top of the case section U by the same rivets 40 by which a clip 41 for the ring 16 is attached. At the opposite end of the arcuate front of trolley 19, a leg 42, conveniently integral therewith, extends upwardly to a position beneath one end of handle 15, at which it may be attached to web 26 of strip 12 by a rivet 43 by which one of the anchors 54 for handle is attached to Web 26. As will be evident, when the upper section U is suspended by hook 10 in ring 16, the weight of the suits, dresses and the like on the hangers placed on the trolley 19, will tend to be supported directly from hook 10. Also, when the case is carried by handle 15, the weight on the trolley 19 tends to be transmitted directly to the handle 15. Thus, the weight of the garments suspended from trolley 19 will normally be transmitted directly to the part by which the case is carried or suspended, thereby reducing stress on other parts.

In further accordance with this invention, the draw bar 22, as indicated previously, may extend between a pair of eccentric arms 23, as between points adjacent the outer ends thereof, and attached thereto in a suitable manner, as by rivets or screws extending through holes 85 of Fig. 6. As in Figs. 6-8, the inner end 86 of each arm 23, which may be pivotally attached as by a rivet to Web 26 of strip 12 of the upper case section U, as in Fig. 1, may be otfset by an integral, right angle section 87 of Figs. 6-8 and also disposed outwardly from the remainder of the arm by an angular section 88, so that with the straight portion of each arm 23 parallel to tongue strip 11, the bar 22 will be disposed in an intermediate position between the front and back of the upper section U, as in the position of Fig. 1. Each bracket 21 for removable rod 29, as in Fig. 9, may be provided with a slot 90, formed as a reentrant curve, so that rod 20, which may be provided with a neck adjacent each end adapted to fit into a slot 90, may be placed in the brackets and stay in place until removed, particularly with the upper section U in upright position, as in Fig. 1. The base 91 of each bracket 21 may also be offset and extend angularly, so that each bracket 21 may be attached, as by rivets, to web 26 of strip 12 at the curved lower corners thereof with the brackets parallel.

As will be evident from the position of arms 23 and draw bar 22 in Fig. 5, garments 24, such as dresses, suits and the like, may depend from hangers mounted on trolley 19 and hang down without interference by bar 22, since the eccentricity of arms 23 permits the bar 22 to be moved to a position directly below the lower end of the upper section of the case. As shown in Fig. 5, rod 20 has been removed. In this position, the hangers for the garments may be moved around trolley 19, particularly onto the front curve thereof, so that access to any individual garment is convenient. To pack such garments in the upper section U, the garments 24 are placed on hangers and the hangers placed on trolley 19, as shown in Fig. 5. Then, the garments are pressed inwardly into the case section until rod 20 can be inserted at the lower end, the garments thereby passing behind rod 20 and the lower ends thereof extending outwardly and then downwardly. Then, draw bar 22 is merely moved upwardly to the position of Fig. 4, such movement automatically pulling the garments 24 around rod 20 and the extending portions of the garments being automatically pulled upwardly and folded over draw bar 22. When packed in this manner, the only creases which tend to be produced extend horizontally, at the positions at which the garments fold about rod 20 and bar 22, but such horizontal creases tend naturally to fall out when the garments are straightened in suspended position, as in Fig. 5. It will be noted that, when an upward pull on rod 20 is exerted, the reentrant curve of brackets 21, as in Fig. 9, will prevent rod 20 from being pulled out of the brackets. For unpacking, all that is necessary is to suspend the upper section U, as in Fig. 4, pull draw bar 22 downwardly to the position of Fig. 5 and remove rod 20. If the garments do not fall naturally to the position of Fig. 5, they may be adjusted in position, while the hangers may also be moved outwardly on trolley 19 to give each garment more space.

As in Fig. 3 and as in said Patent No. 2,861,661, the lock 14 may include a column 55 extending through wall 27 to a lock body 56, provided with an extending arm 57 at the rear and the outer end of which, along with the outer end of a strip 58, may be attached to the wall 27 by a rivet 59. Column 55 also passes through strip 58, while the inner end of strip 58 engages one side of web 26 and lock body 56 abuts the inside of tongue strip 11 and extends to a position in which an extensible latch 60 may engage a slot in a catch 61, shown also in Fig. 2. Catch 61 may be attached to web 26 of strip 12 of the upper section U, as by a pair of rivets 62 extending through web 26 and wall 27, as well as a spacing block 63.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that a luggage case constructed in accordance with this invention fulfills to a marked degree the requirements and objects hereinbefore set forth. The curved trolley on which hangers or the like may be placed comprises a highly useful feature, while the atatchment of one end of this trolley to one of the handle anchors and the opposite end to a ring or other means by which the case section may be suspended by a hook or the like, the load on the trolley will be transmitted directly to the point at which the case is supported. The use of separable hinges enables the case to be packed much more readily, since dresses, suits or the like to be packed may be left on hangers and the hangers placed on the trolley therefor, with any extra length extending down past the lower end of the case section. However, when the draw bar, mounted on eccentric arms, is moved from down to up position, the articles are automatically folded into the case at the correct points. Also, when so folded, any creases which tend to be produced will extend laterally of the garments and will tend to fall out more readily when the garments are again straightened out while hanging.

It will be understood that certain features of a luggage case of this invention may be utilized without others. Thus, while a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that other embodiments may exist and that numerous changes may be made, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a luggage case, in which two opposed concave sections meet at the edges thereof when closed and at least one section is provided with an end wall spaced from said edge and side walls extending between said edges and said end wall, said section including a handle for said luggage case attached to the side wall of said section; means for suspending said section and attached to said side wall adjacent said handle; and a trolley for receiving hangers and the like for garments to be placed in said section and to hang from said section when said section is suspended, one end of said trolley being connected to said handle and the opposite end of said trolley being connected to said suspending means.

2. In a luggage case as defined in claim 1, wherein said section includes strip means extending around said edge of said section with said side walls attached to said strip means; said handle is attached to said strip means; and said one end of said trolley is attached to said strip means at the position of said handle.

3. In a luggage case as defined in claim 2, wherein an attaching device extends through said side wall and said strip means to connect said handle and said one end of said trolley. Q

4. In a luggage case as defined in claim 1 wherein said trolley includes a front leg extending downwardly from said handle and a rear leg extending downwardly from said suspending means; an arcuate horizontal portion extending forwardly beyond the position of said strip means, one end of said arcuate portion being attached to said front leg; and a horizontal portion extending from the opposite end of said arcuate portion to said rear leg.

5. In a concave luggagecase section, means for suspending said section; a trolley in the upper end of said section for receiving hangers and the like for suspending garments therefrom; a removable transverse rod in the lower portion of said section for engaging said garments and permitting the same to be folded therebeneath; a draw bar for engaging said garments and movable between a lower position in which said garments may extend downwardly past the lower edge of said section and an upper position closer to said trolley than to said rod in which longer garments folded beneath said rod are folded over said bar; and a pair of arms for supporting and moving said draw bar between said positions, said bar extending between said arms and said arms being pivotally attached to said section adjacent the lower end thereof and at opposite sides thereof, each said arm being offset inwardly a suflicient amount that said bar may hang substantially beneath the lower edge of said section when in said lower position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

